The French disconnection: a retreat from Niger

<p>President Emmanuel Macron’s <a href="https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2023/09/25/why-emmanuel-macron-is-pulling-french-troops-out-of-niger?utm_campaign=a.io&amp;utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&amp;utm_source=theintelligence&amp;utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&amp;utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">about-face</a> on maintaining a presence in the coup-stricken country portends a broader change in France’s relations on the continent. Shifting geopolitics is <a href="https://www.economist.com/international/2023/09/19/meet-the-worlds-new-arms-dealers?utm_campaign=a.io&amp;utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&amp;utm_source=theintelligence&amp;utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&amp;utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">changing the list</a> of the world’s big arms dealers (9:08). And the internet influencers <a href="https://www.economist.com/culture/2023/09/01/influencer-boxing-is-a-welcome-distraction?utm_campaign=a.io&amp;utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&amp;utm_source=theintelligence&amp;utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&amp;utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">taking a swing</a> at professional boxing (16:02).</p><br /><p>Sign up for Economist Podcasts+ now and get 50% off your subscription with our <a href="http://www.economist.com/podcastsplus-intelligence" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">limited-time offer</a>. You will not be charged until Economist Podcasts+ launches.</p><br /><p>If you’re already a subscriber to The Economist, you’ll have full access to all our shows as part of your subscription.</p><br /><p>For more information about Economist Podcasts+, including how to get access, please visit our <a href="https://myaccount.economist.com/s/article/What-is-Economist-Podcasts" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">FAQs page</a>.</p><hr /><p style="color: grey; font-size: 0.75em;"> Hosted on Acast. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: grey;" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>